DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN EXILE Policy Responses to Transnational Repression Digital transnational repression allows governments to more easily access targets and disrupt their professional and personal lives. The widespread uptake of these precautions is remarkable, given how time consuming they can be. Saudi-American activist Areej al-Sadhan changed her passwords, added twofactor authentication, and updated security settings after being notified that someone was trying to access her social media accounts. She said she remains worried about her digital security but is unable to escalate those concerns for The networked nature of online communication means that one person’s poor digital security— something as simple as delaying a software update—could put their entire community in danger. 28 @FreedomHouse practical reasons: “I update the software, but I haven’t tried to get a full investigation. It’s just because of time.”114 Regularly changing passwords, constantly updating phone and computer software, double-checking and adjusting what are often confusing privacy settings on accounts, and switching back and forth between different secure messaging services can all be overwhelming. Maintaining digital hygiene not only requires ceaseless attention, but it can also be particularly challenging for individuals who lack the opportunity to become digitally literate or the internet access required to download tools that will keep them safe. People living in countries where the government censors online content or limits access to secure communication technologies may not even be able to find reliable information or tools pertaining to digital hygiene. Moreover, the networked nature of online communication means that one person’s poor digital security—something as simple as delaying a software update—could put their entire community in danger. #TransnationalRepression